Heksens Hårbånd (The Witch’s Headband) in Lille Skensved, Denmark

Højelse Church, dating back to the 13th century, is situated near Køge, Denmark, and features a distinctive stone in its wall. This stone, known as "The Witch's Headband," has a pale stripe across its surface. Local folklore attributes the stripe to a witch's hair ribbon, turned to stone. The tale narrates how a witch tried to silence the church bell by hurling a boulder from Skåne. Saint Michael intervened, and the boulder landed in the churchyard. The witch's ribbon supposedly became the visible stripe. Geologists propose a different explanation for the stripe's origin. They suggest it's due to differential erosion of the stone's components. The darker, iron-rich rock erodes quicker than the lighter band. The lighter band is composed of more erosion-resistant quartz and feldspar. This type of banding is a naturally occurring geological phenomenon. Thus, science provides a contrasting explanation to the local legend.